No new trial for man convicted of 2002 murder

By MATT DUNNmdunn@sjnewsco.comBRIDGETON -- A 29-year-old Vineland man convicted last month of murder has been denied a new trial by Superior Court Judge John Waters.

Thomas Nevius, found guilty by a jury Feb. 6 in connection with the 2002 slaying of a Chestnut Square Apartments woman in Vineland, attempted to have attorney Terry Stomel argue on his behalf at a hearing Thursday in Superior Court.

"I had a conversation with an outside person that I should keep my mouth shut from here on out," Nevius said in Superior Court on Thursday.

Nevius, who has no legal training, had waived his right to counsel and acted as his own attorney during his trial.

Waters said Thursday that he had been impressed with Nevius' representation during his trial, considering his lack of formal legal training, and said if Nevius wanted, he could argue for a new trial.

But the judge said Nevius would have to argue the motion himself, seeing no reason to allow tag-team lawyering.

"I thought he did surprisingly well. I think that he had Mr. Stomel sitting by his side (during the trial). He did confer with Mr. Stomel on a number of occasions and I heard no complaint," he said.

Nevius argued that his stand-by counsel, Stomel, was ineffective, that Waters improperly charged the jury, and that the jury's verdict was inconsistent with the evidence presented during the trial.

Waters found his arguments without merit and scheduled Nevius' sentencing for April 4.

Nevius faces up to life in prison if convicted of murder in connection with the death of 52-year-old Ruth Walker.

Walker was stabbed and strangled on July 30, 2002, after she came home and found two intruders in her apartment.

A second man, William Boston, was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison last year in connection with Walker's death.